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Sarah Palin Not Running

Sarah Palin has decided not to run for President this time around. I endorsed her for President a long time ago. The endorsement is in my sidebar and will remain there for the foreseeable future, although I will not in any way agitate to draft her or to try to rally to get her to run Third Party (which would be an unmitigated disaster).

After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States. As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision. When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country. My decision maintains this order.

My decision is based upon a review of what common sense Conservatives and Independents have accomplished, especially over the last year. I believe that at this time I can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants to office – from the nation’s governors to Congressional seats and the Presidency. We need to continue to actively and aggressively help those who will stop the “fundamental transformation” of our nation and instead seek the restoration of our greatness, our goodness and our constitutional republic based on the rule of law.

From the bottom of my heart I thank those who have supported me and defended my record throughout the years, and encouraged me to run for President. Know that by working together we can bring this country back – and as I’ve always said, one doesn’t need a title to help do it.

I will continue driving the discussion for freedom and free markets, including in the race for President where our candidates must embrace immediate action toward energy independence through domestic resource developments of conventional energy sources, along with renewables. We must reduce tax burdens and onerous regulations that kill American industry, and our candidates must always push to minimize government to strengthen the economy and allow the private sector to create jobs.

Those will be our priorities so Americans can be confident that a smaller, smarter government that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people can better serve this most exceptional nation.

In the coming weeks I will help coordinate strategies to assist in replacing the President, re-taking the Senate, and maintaining the House.

Thank you again for all your support. Let’s unite to restore this country!

Maybe she’ll focus now on challenging Begich for Senate in Alaska in 2014, which would be a huge first step back towards national viability down the road. She’s 47 years old, fully 25 years younger than McCain was when he was nominated three years ago. No rush.

Update: Perry issues a brief statement: “Sarah Palin is a good friend, a great American and a true patriot. I respect her decision and know she will continue to be a strong voice for conservative values and needed change in Washington.”

Update: My guess is that Cain benefits the most from her absence. Like her, he’s a Beltway outsider, and like her, he seems like a real person, not a talking-points machine like the Romneybot or a back-slapping gladhander like Perry. Authenticity has always been key to Palin’s appeal among her supporters and that’s Cain all over. Besides, where else could her supporters go realistically? Romney’s too centrist and Bachmann’s a lost cause. And Perry’s been knocked by Palin (sometimes by name, sometimes not) for both his crony-capitalist tendencies and his Gardasil initiative, so unless she ends up endorsing him, there’s every reason for her fans to think he’s a nonstarter.

I had the same thoughts about Senator Begich and 2014 when I read the news on CSPT. If she were to replace that Alaska Democrat, her term would be up around the same time the 2-term Republican President finished and she would still be plenty young enough in her mid 50s to take the Presidency then.

Needless to say, I’m very disappointed…and very worried because none of the other announced candidates fully understands what bad shape we are in.

and adds an answer to that concern. “Well, maybe, but then the task falls to the Tea Parties to inform them.”

Allahpundit has the major problems with Romney and Perry pretty square. And Bachmann, my second choice? Is she a lost cause as Allahpundit, himself far too squishy, suggests? With her gaffes and the rumors of her campaign team travails, she may well be. I have called Perry my third choice of three on previous occasions, stating there is nobody else, but I may have to take a good long look at Cain — who is lacking in foreign policy — because Perry was my “third of three” for a reason. I just don’t like Big Government types. I also deplore being called heartless by a man who is standing firmly to the Left of 80 percent of the public.

So, with the best of the best out, I’ll have to look for the best-looking wallflower and ride that horse to town.